<a title="SJVC Home" href="/">Home</a> &gt; <a title="Program Listing" href="/program-listing/">Programs</a> &gt; <a title="Medical Programs" href="/medical-programs/">Medical</a> &gt; <a title="Physician Assistant" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/physician-assistant/">Physician Assistant</a> &gt; Application Process

Applicants for the Physician Assistant program must have completed 60 semester or 90 quarter college units with a satisfactory GPA of 2.5 or higher. Prerequisite courses include 3 semester or 4 quarter units in several life sciences, writing and composition, speech, psychology, sociology and college level math. Prerequisite science courses should be with a grade of “B” or better. Non-science prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better.

<strong>Prerequisite courses</strong>
<ul>
	<li>• General Chemistry (with lab)</li>
	<li>• General Microbiology (with lab)</li>
	<li>• Human Physiology (with lab)</li>
	<li>• Human Anatomy (with lab)</li>
	<li>• Public Speaking or Oral Communication</li>
	<li>• Intro to Sociology or Cultural Anthropology</li>
	<li>• Reading and Composition</li>
	<li>• General Psychology</li>
	<li>• College algebra or higher*</li>
</ul>
<em>*College algebra must be equivalent in depth &amp; breadth to SJVC’s Math 121/122. All required coursework completed in the United States must be from a regionally accredited institution.</em>

Coursework listed as “in progress” will not be accepted, and advanced placement, transfer of physician assistant credits, or credit for experiential learning, is not permitted. Students must participate in the full 24-month curriculum.

2,000 hours of direct patient care experience is also required for admission (paid and volunteer hours are acceptable). Hours accrued as a student in a training program cannot be used towards this total.

Applicants must also meet the <a href="http://static.sjvc.edu/_downloads/docs/PA_TechnicalStandards.pdf" target="_blank">technical standards</a> to be considered for the program. Technical standards provide a reference against which candidates for enrollment to the program are evaluated by the Admissions Committee in the selection of students for the PA program.

<strong>Application Process</strong>
The Physician Assistant Program has a highly-selective application process in which only the most qualified applicants are chosen to fill available seats. GPA, work experience, admissions assessments and personal interview are considered by the admissions team for acceptance.

Applicants are selected to fill available seats for each cohort using a points system based on:
<ul>
	<li>• Postsecondary education (Attainment, GPA)</li>
	<li>• Healthcare work experience</li>
	<li>• Application panel interview</li>
</ul>
<em>Please note that meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee enrollment</em>.
To begin the application process, <a href="http://static.sjvc.edu/_downloads/docs/SJVC-PA-Program-Application-rev-2013.pdf" target="_blank">download the application and necessary admissions forms</a>.

Official transcripts from all regionally accredited institutions attended must be included in the application packet. Transcripts of all completed prerequisite courses be sent to SJVC by the application deadline.

The applicant must submit a one-page written personal statement explaining why the applicant wants to become a physician assistant (to be done during the applicant panel interview).

Two letters of recommendation from individuals knowledgeable of and able to evaluate the applicant’s health care experience must be submitted with the application packet.

Qualified candidates will be considered for invitation to interview with the selection committee.

<strong>Foreign Institutions &amp; Transfer of Credit</strong>
Applicants who have completed coursework outside of the United States must have their transcripts evaluated by the International Education Research Foundation, Inc. (IERF) or equivalent organization. An official copy of the Academic Detailed Report from IERF or an equivalent organization must be included with the application. All applicants must include course descriptions of prerequisite coursework in the application packet.

<strong>For additional information regarding the application process, please contact the Physician Assistant Admissions Advisor at (559) 651–2500 ext 148 or email <a href="mailto:admissions.pa@sjvc.edu">admissions.pa@sjvc.edu</a>.</strong>

<strong>Program Start Dates</strong>
<table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th width="25%" height="25"><strong>Cohort Start</strong></th>
<th width="25%" height="25"><strong>App Deadline</strong></th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="25">August 25, 2014</td>
<td height="25">January 31, 2014</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>